Biocompatibility and osteoconduction of macroporous silk fibroin implants in cortical defects in sheep.

The goal of the presented study was to compare the biocompatibility and cellular responses to porous silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds produced in a water-based (UPW) or a solvent based process (HFIP) using two different SF sources. For that reason, four different SF scaffolds were implanted (n=6) into drill hole defects in the cancellous bone of the sheep tibia and humerus. The scaffolds were evaluated histologically for biocompatibility, cell-material interaction, and cellular ingrowth.